Prices Of Basic Goods In Batam Rise Ahead Of Christmas, City Government Collaborates With 50 Distributors To Hold Cheap Market Operations

Deputy Mayor of Batam Amsakar Achmad. (AMONG)

BATAM - The Batam City Government, Riau Islands, held a low-cost market operation to maintain price stability and the availability of basic goods ahead of Christmas 2021 and New Year 2022.

"This activity is important because in the last few days a number of basic commodities have experienced an increase in prices. As we know this price is influenced by the weather cycle," said Deputy Mayor of Batam Amsakar Achmad in Batam, Antara, Monday, December 13.

Batam City Government involves around 50 distributors in low-cost market operations, so that the prices offered to the public can be lower. "If there are goods that are more expensive, I will order the commodity to be withdrawn instead of spreading biased information to the public," he said.

He invites the public to take advantage of low-cost market operations in order to meet their needs at relatively low prices. Low-cost market operations are held in rotation in all sub-districts on the main island.

Goods sold in market operations include rice, cooking oil, eggs, sugar, flour, chicken and beef, chili, shallots and garlic. Then vegetables, fruits, fish, processed fish, up to 3 kilograms of LPG gas and 5.5 kg of Bright Gas.

Head of the Batam City Industry and Trade Office, Gustian Riau, said that the cheap market operation was a collaboration between his party and the Batam City Distributor Association, the Food and Agriculture Security Service (DKPP), the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Service, Pertamina Persero Kepri and Bulog.

"This market operation is expected to help people get basic necessities at affordable prices," he said.

Market operations are carried out in nine sub-districts of the main island for five days, from December 13 to December 18 2021, from 09.00 WIB to 13.00 WIB.

Today, market operations will be held in Batam City and Nongsa Sub-districts, Tuesday, December 14 in Sagulung and Batuaji Sub-districts, Wednesday, 15 December in Seibeduk District. Next, Thursday, December 16 in Bengkong District and Sekupang District and Saturday, December 18 in Lubukbaja District and Batuampar District.